One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been slammed by her voter base for saying she backed the government’s controversial new hate crimes bill, and later claiming she has abstained from voting because she did not support the laws.
Senator Hanson and fellow Queensland One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts did not vote against the Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2024 when it passed the senate on Thursday, and told their social media followers on Friday that they “refused to take part in this sham vote” because the party did not support the bill.
But video has since emerged of Ms Hanson speaking at a press conference just hours before the vote where she told reporters she supported the bill, which created new offences for threatening force or violence against an expanded list of “targeted groups”, and imposed mandatory minimum sentences.
— Australians vs. The Agenda (@ausvstheagenda) February 8, 2025
“I will have a look at those hate crime laws, yes, I have actually voted against hate crime laws in the past, and more than likely will be voting for it,” she said in response to a question about her views on the legislation.
“I possibly will support the hate crime laws, by all means. There shouldn’t be hate crimes in Australia,” she added when asked to clarify her statement.
And when asked whether she supported the mandatory minimum sentences – which will mean Australians will be jailed for a minimum of one year for displaying Nazi or terror organisation symbols and six years for urging force or violence against a targeted group – Ms Hanson again confirmed she was in favour.
“Yes I do, yes, there has to be [mandatory minimum sentences], until we clean up our act,” she said.
Ms Hanson’s supporters reacted with anger and disbelief to the comments, with one saying “I’m appalled at this betrayal” and many more saying One Nation had lost their vote.
“Very sad. Pauline supports the concept of ‘hate crime’ and mandatory minimum sentences. Paul of Tarsus, a Roman Jew, commands us to ‘hate what is evil’. Even if hatred was always wrong, the blunt instrument of the law is useless, like attempting brain surgery with a hacksaw,” said Libertarians NSW President Ross Cameron.
“Unbelievable, is she confused? I’ll be voting for [Gerard] Rennick now,” said an upset X user.
“Pauline has become a shell of what she used to be. Her entire party has turned into a pathetic charade of lukewarm conservatism,” said another.
Mr Roberts responded to some of his critics on X on Friday, asking why some voters seemed angrier at One Nation than the Liberals, who worked with Labor to pass the bill.
“Putting a NO vote on the record is the only power a minor party Senator has in this situation. By your justification all bipartisan legislation would not be voted on by crossbench Senators,” Libertarian senate candidate for Victoria Jordan Dittloff responded.
“Your NO vote on the age verification legislation was in exactly the same circumstances, bipartisan support for censorship, your vote made no difference to the outcome – but it made a huge difference to the people watching. Why was this issue different?”
It was a disappointing day to not have a proper debate on the Government’s hate speech laws. The debate was “gagged” after only an hour or so.
My concern with the laws that they could give rise to prosecutions where incitement to violence was not of a physical nature.
I moved…
— Senator Matt Canavan (@mattjcan) February 6, 2025
Queensland Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has also been under fire for voting in favour of the bill, later explaining on X: “While the laws were not perfect, I voted for them because incitement to violence should be a crime and it is hard to grant a “good faith” defence to anyone who incites violence.”
But his post attracted hundreds of critical comments, including one that simply read: “You disappointed a lot of Australians today Matt.”
Header Image credit: Pauline Hanson (X).
